All posts tagged: decorating ideas

getting my youth on

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Normally I don’t do much on weekends except read, write and watch old movies on television but today a friend of mine needed help with a wardrobe. She was going to a club for under 30 and didn’t know what to wear in order to fit in.  I laughed when she told me this, because she has passed the age to go clubing and knew no matter what outfit we put together, it wasn’t going to camouflage the fact.  As she shopped from store to store, looking through racks of tops and bottoms, with tears, no tears, t-shirts and tank tops, see through, double sleeved, single stitch, multi color and more, I decided to wander off and circle the racks myself  just to reminisce of the days gone by. Even though there is no rhyme or reason to today’s fashion, I saw the 80s and 90s flash right before my eyes as I pushed the hangers one by one to get a visual, then some 50s and 60s thrown in their as well making it even more challenging for …

breakfast of champions for the over 40 years olds

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You know we read here and there and listen to news about what “we” need to eat in order to stay healthy and maintain our weight. Whatever that means. I mean this topic annoys me to no end. I want to understand how it is that people can maintain a healthy lifestyle while coping with life’s pressures, breathing in the pollution day in and day out and consuming processed foods? No, but seriously, aside from the b.s., it is difficult to do our part and as a result we sometimes tend to eat a quick muffin for breakfast, or chomp on frozen waffles while we drive the kids to school, maybe even just settle on a cup of coffee if we are watching our weight just to pretend we got something in our stomachs before tackling the day. Well, here is my take on this. I am a firm believer of eating a good breakfast and taking the time to do so in order to have the most positive day possible. I understand most women …

getting ready for two weddings

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Maggy London Illusion Back Pleated Matte Jersey Dress (Nordstrom)$148.00 – This is my best black dress choice for an evening wedding in Sausalito, California this June. I prefer wearing black for most evening occasions, it is the fall back dress for me when I feel self conscious about anything physically or just plain self conscious. Be careful however, with a dress like this one, you want to make sure your curves and bulges are in the right location of your body otherwise your attempt will be disastrous. Alex Evenings Portrait Collar Mesh Dress (Nordstrom)For a more full figured and bustier than myself woman, I suggested going with the following choices. Eliza J Ruffle Print Wrap Dress (Nordstrom) $158.00 – This is the dress I decided on for a daytime outdoor wedding in Santa Barbara July 2010. Again this style works for my body type but may not do justice for the full figured woman over 40. Instead, for daytime or outdoor events, I suggest sticking to neutrals and whites with some sort of sheer wrap …

angelina’s Cafe

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I must have driven by Angelina’s Cafe on California Street and 22nd (in the Richmond District in San Francisco) about a hundred times and said to myself, wow what a cute place, I have to go there sometimes. Well, finally today, after years of contemplating and planning, I finally decided to eat breakfast there after my one hour walk. As I parked my car half a block from the corner where Angelina’s Cafe is situated, I got a great feeling in my stomach as I walked by the French bistro table and chairs lined along the outside of the cafe. When I entered through the door, I noticed the customers lined up along the deli counter, waiting to order their food. Some were holding on to their dog’s leashes. I instantly knew I would love this place since they allowed dogs to be in the store. (Just in case you are wondering, I feel dogs should be allowed everywhere) I ordered a sesame bagel with eggs, cheddar cheese and bacon and was asked if I …

no recipe here just good food

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I love “good” food like most individual with an artistic palette. I refer to palettes as artistic because if you think about it, those who lack creativity, lack a taste for good food (in my opinion). Good food to me is something that has to compliment my taste buds, it has to enhance my sense of smell from the array of spices used to create the dish, and finally it has to fulfill my innermost sensuality. Believe me if you think about it, you will understand what I mean. I am always in search of good food and when I find myself settling due to my financial state at the time I frequent the restaurant, or the party I am with doesn’t have an artistic palette, I leave the restaurant feeling unhappy and a bit grumpy. Keep in mind I am not implying that only expensive restaurants or those who claim to work with the best chefs in the world have the best meals. I am stating that even the simplest and most inexpensive places …

handbag and shoes for the woman over 40

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If there is anything I can say I am addicted to, even in midlife, is shoes and handbags. I can walk through department stores and browse through the selection of designer shoes and handbags, oh probably an entire day without feeling tired. I know I am not alone in this, but choosing the right shoes and handbags for a woman over 40 could sometimes be very challenging. There is a certain protocol when you reach a certain time in your life and the shoes and handbags you select should compliment your maturity rather than hinder it. A handbag should never be too big or too small and the handle should be designed so that when you carry it, it doesn’t seem like you are struggling. Sticking to pale colors in the summer is ideal and keeping with the blacks is appreciated in the winter months. Women over 40 should stay away from bright yellow or fuchsias and greens. If color is your thing, then stick to lavenders and power blues instead for spring and summer. …

modern design and middle age

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I love architecture and design. I cannot settle for the outdated in this area of my life. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing but to me, because I don’t live by what others think about me, is a great thing. From the 70s to the 90s I had trouble accepting the furniture and home designs and flipped through magazines, being simply bored with what I saw. Nonetheless I conformed hoping someday, somehow, somewhere, someone would create design I can live by and with. Then came Dwell Magazine and the erection of modern homes with energy efficient as well as recycled materials used to build the dwelling and I must say, I have never been happier about architecture and design. I am a firm believer of streamline, clean design and the notion that less is more and so goes the appreciation of modern design. In the past, we cluttered our homes with pieces we really did not need and colors that only worked with one season and not the other. For …

pebbles and such

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I love pebbles. I can honestly say that I prefer a collection of pebbles in my household more so than diamond  in my jewelry box. I often walk the ocean beach in San Francisco in search of unique pebbles and also shop home furnishing stores for bagged or boxed pebbles as well. This is probably an obsession of mine, but who cares, I am entitled to one or two. I have canisters and glass vases full of them around the house and one day with the proper loft design I plan to incorporate pebbles into my living room space or along a long hallway either outdoor or indoor of an eco-friendly home. The most interesting thing I found about pebbles  is that a collection of them in a glass container goes with almost any neutral decor in any coastal city as well as, if arranged correctly most decors elsewhere. Pebbles are also very easy to work with, whether you create your own design or purchase a ready-made design from a store. The possibilities are endless if you put your mind to it. Pebbles also come in different …

admiring french country decor

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I think I was an interior decorator  in my other life, because I cannot seem to get enough of interior decor. The problem with admiring or appreciating a wide range of decor styles is that, it becomes more difficult to stay with just one theme year after year and hence the need to redecorate comes into play every two or three years.:) What I am beginning to discover is that, I either need several homes so that I could apply the different styles in each one or I may have to create my own eclectic style throughout my place in order to incorporate each style into one. One style of decor I tend to admire is, yes of course,  French country or French provincial  – in my opinion they are  almost one and the same but some  may argue otherwise.   Either way, it is a style to be appreciated and yet difficult to incorporate in apartment style living. (Which is my preferred choice of housing). Anyway, below are some photos I have put together which …